As the owner and manager of Stelvio Limited John has a wealth of experience.
At 18 years of age John owned his own business, selling and repairing motorcycles.
From here he moved to plant hire equipment, working on everything from a chainsaws to 1200 cfm compressor. A major part of this job was welding repairs and construction of new plant.
John then moved to the distribution of lubricants in the oil industry.
During this period he began maintaining rail while working as a volunteer for the Waitakere Tramline Society in 1987. In 1991 he prepared a Safety Case for the Society.
When Watercare Services Limited started taking passengers on their narrow gauge railway, the Rainforest Express, 12 years ago, he was invited to become one of their original train drivers. He now holds the contract for maintaining the locomotive, carriages and the railway line to the Upper Nihotupu Dam.
A number of non-rail related work is also provided for Watercare with bridge abutement repairs, fish ladders and tunnel drainage being a few. Usually these jobs involve limited access sites.
John has obtained a national Rail Licence for the Department of Conservation having prepared their Safety Case. The team then laid a railway in Denniston- The Banbury Tourist Mine Railway. A Safety Operating Manual is underway to ensure everything is ready for DoC's proposed December opening.
He is currently revising the Safety case for the Rotorua Ngongataha Rail Trust to get them operational.
Cathy is a driver on the Rainforest Express, having worked there for over five years.
During this time she has joined the Stelvio crew maintaining and installing railways. Along with working on all other maintenance jobs, Cathy is the Health and Safety Manager, and is involved with the formation of Safety Operating Manuals.
As a qualified mechanic Scott is an asset in maintaining the locomotive and all the equipment. He has been involved will all aspects of the business over the last few years. In our last project Scott was responsible for track laying on the Banbury Tourist Mine Railway.